He Who Spits on Jane Fonda

On March 27, 2012, it was announced that Jane Fonda will play the role of Nancy Reagan, wife of the late President Ronald Reagan, in an upcoming film titled THE BUTLER, a historical drama about the life of Eugene Allen, who worked as a butler in the White House under eight presidents.

Jane Fonda, also known as Hanoi Jane, was a radically outspoken liberal opponent of the Vietnam War, whereas Ronald Reagan was a conservative proponent of defeating the expansion of global communism. Naturally, this has sparked an uproar in certain quarters.

Seven years ago, I wrote a newspaper column about an incident involving Jane Fonda which incited many conservative readers, particular military veterans, who responded to my piece with much anger and venom.

In April 2005, actress Jane Fonda, age 67, was in Kansas City signing copies of her new book titled MY LIFE SO FAR when a 54-year-old Vietnam veteran named Michael Smith approached her and spit tobacco juice in her face.

After being arrested for disorderly conduct, Smith said he considered his actions to be a "debt of honor."

Vietnam was once a colony of France called French Indochina. In 1945, a Communist activist named Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independence from French rule by quoting passages of the American Constitution and began a guerilla warfare movement against the French Provisional Government.

When Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he sent military aid to the French in order to prevent a communist takeover of the region.

After an eight-year struggle in which a total of 400,000 men on both sides perished, France pulled out of Vietnam in 1954. An agreement, called the Geneva Accord, was reached whereby Vietnam would be divided at the 17th parallel with Communists to the north and non-Communists to the south.

True to their cause, the Communists in the north soon wanted to reunite the country into a single Communist entity. Concerned with the expansion of Communism, the USA began shipping military supplies and training a South Vietnamese Army.

Eventually, a bloody confrontation erupted.

The subsequent Kennedy and Johnson Administrations sent American troops into Vietnam, greatly escalating the conflict over the next decade.

The Vietnam "conflict" was never declared a "war" by congress. Apparently they didn't want to alarm the American public that there was carnage taking place on the other side of the world and we were smack dab in the middle of it.

It was an abrupt turning point in American history. Our country suddenly became divided by ideology -- war is required to maintain freedom versus war is wrong and unnecessary.

One point of view held that the world was slowly and methodically being taken over by Communism and Vietnam was the place where freedom lovers would make their stand. Communism is the enslavement of humanity. It is an insidious system whereby the people serve the government, rather than the government serving the people, and does not allow any political recourse for change, short of revolution. Those under the rule of a collective society become virtual prisoners of an omnipotent government that dictates roles and results. Those who cherish individual freedom vehemently oppose such oppression.

This is a valid viewpoint -- those who understood the dire consequences of Communism attempted to put a stop to it and Vietnam was the battleground of the day.

The other point of view was that war is wrong, especially this corrupt war. The military-industrial complex loves to build weapons of war and occasionally yearns for a place to utilize them. Vietnam was a nice little country half way around the world -- a good place to start a "limited" conflict. The spook industry (CIA, etc.), where the ends justify the means, spends a great deal of resources covertly manipulating events -- this was certainly true in Vietnam (including assassinating South Vietnamese political leaders who wouldn't follow the USA line).

This is also a valid viewpoint -- those who were appalled by the USA being the self-appointed global police force, deliberately initiating bloody conflicts around the world, wanted to put an end to what they perceived as an unnecessary war, based on unwarranted fear and corporate profits. Plus, American interventionism also generates much negative global reaction toward the USA.

In essence, both sides had a valid point of view and both sides underestimated the consequences.

The Vietnam Conflict affected everyone of that era. I was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966-68 during the Vietnam Conflict and it took another year after I was discharged just to get back to where I was before I was drafted. I had a friend who lost a foot in Vietnam and knew a couple of guys who died over there. We all paid a price.

Yes, there was a valid reason for the conflict.

Yes, there were multiple valid reasons for opposing it.

Jane Fonda was opposed to the Conflict and was extremely outspoken about it, including her infamous trip to North Vietnam in an attempt to bring attention to the adverse consequences of war.

"To be a revolutionary you have to be a human being -- you have to care about people who have no power." Jane Fonda

Opposition to war is obviously a positive attitude. But when the Hitler's and the Communists of this world attempt to overpower you and impose their will upon you, war is a preferable option than allowing yourself to be overrun by tyranny. The price of freedom is the endless struggle against those who wish to take it from you.

Jane Fonda has since apologized for some of her actions but remains steadfast in her opposition to our involvement. Whether you agree with her or not, she is courageous in her convictions. She took a gob of spittle in the face and took it in stride, understanding the motive behind the attack and choosing not to press charges.

Spitting on Jane Fonda only makes whoever spit on her look like a fool. It's an act of cowardice that dishonors everything our country stands for, including the freedom to think for yourself and the freedom to express your views. When you disagree with your government you have an obligation to speak up.

Jane Fonda will forever be haunted by her actions decades ago. She's either hated or admired, depending on your point of view. But even some of those who hate her also respect her for her courage.

As for reprisals, she was married to Ted Turner for 10 years -- that alone should to be punishment enough for her past deeds.

"Ted needs someone to be there 100% of the time. He thinks that's love. It's not love -- it's babysitting." Jane Fonda

There were a few incidences during the 1960s when soldiers returning from Vietnam were spit upon by protestors of our military presence in Vietnam. This is beyond absurd and highly offensive. Our gallant young men and women in the Armed Forces put their lives and limbs on the line under the assumption of preserving freedom. They do not choose who or where or when to fight, they simply do their duty to protect the primary objective of a free society -- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Spitting on soldiers is an insult. Their function is to serve and protect the citizens. There is much madness and evil in this world, requiring armed units to defend the principles of freedom.

Spitting on Jane Fonda is an insult. The function of protest is to bring forth alternatives to government actions. Imagine a world without protestors -- a world of sheep, blindly following government dictates while quietly toiling like worker bees. In North Korea and elsewhere, those who protest are confined to labor camps or exterminated. I prefer to live in a world where protest is allowed, regardless of the message or the messenger.

To many, Jane Fonda went beyond proper protest protocol when she went to N. Vietnam and called our leaders "war criminals." You don't have to embrace the message or the messenger -- but you do need to protect the right to non-violent protest.

All war is evil -- but sometimes there is no choice.

However, sometimes war is simply a manufactured exercise to make rich men richer.

This world is not run by governments -- it is run by those who control governments. This includes international bankers who profit from both sides of war, many of which they also have a hand in creating. The ruling elites, who control monetary systems and media, empower political leaders who will do their bidding. They manipulate events behind the scene to satisfy their lust for wealth and power. The more conflict they can generate, the closer they will be to creating a One-World government (under the guise of ending conflicts), with them in control of the entire planet.

And at the very top of the Pyramid of Power is an "unknown, invisible" Force that controls the elites. But that's a topic for another time.

There is courage in war and there is courage in trying to stop it -- voices of protest must be heard.
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Quote for the Day -- "It is forbidden to kill -- therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." Voltaire
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Bret Burquest is the author of 8 books, including THE REALITY OF THE ILLUSION OF REALITY, ORB OF WOUNDED SOULS and PATH TO FOURTH DENSITY (available on Amazon). He lives in the Ozark Mountains with a dog named Buddy Lee and where spitting is a competitive sport.
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Computer Geeks Unleashed

In April of 1966, I was drafted into the U.S. Army (Vietnam Era) and served as a computer analyst at Third Army Headquarters at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia, with the Third U. S. Army Data Processing Company.

Every company on the post had a football team. Plus there was a company of U.S. Marines stationed at a nearby supply depot that filled out our 6-team league.

We played touch football.

In the military, that meant it was illegal to break bones during a touch.

The Marines and the data processors met in October of 1967. During warm-ups, the Marines appeared confident. After all, they were big, tough dudes with necks as big as their thighs and we were computer geeks.

We had enough players to field a team, as long as we played both ways, with a couple players left over for emergency.

I often played fullback and middle linebacker. This night I was the center and a defensive lineman.

As usual, John Danko, a notorious street fighter from north Minneapolis gave us an emotional boost. Just before he kicked off to open the game, he pointed at some of the nastiest-looking Marines and announced he was going to stomp them into the ground.

When Danko kicked the ball to start the game, eleven computer geeks, including me, stormed down the field like we were all blood kin to Dick Butkus.

Thus began an evening of pure mayhem.

In the first half, Staff Sergeant Jackson blew out a knee in a pileup and was carted off to the hospital. He was replaced at defensive tackle by a guy from Philadelphia named Phillips, a decent athlete with good size.

In the third quarter, the biggest Marine on the offensive line nailed Phillips in the mouth with a forearm. Phillips lost several front teeth and was bleeding badly from a split lip, so he left the game and went off to be repaired.

John Wright, linebacker, took my place at defensive end while I slipped into the tackle position previously occupied by Jackson and Phillips. Wright was an excellent athlete, tall with speed.

When we lined up again, I told the molester of computer geeks, in rather colorful language, that he was about to encounter the next level of bad. Rather than intimidating him, it made him smile.

In the last quarter, the score was still zero-zero.

We had the marines backed up deep in their own territory when they ran up the middle. Somehow, my elbow smacked into the biggest offensive lineman’s mouth. It drew blood but his teeth remained intact. Although it was accidental, it turned out to be a turning point in the game.

A couple of other Marines accosted me but Banning and Valentino, the left side of our defensive line, joined in and soon whistles were blowing and flags flying.

Everyone on the field was now in full macho mode. Danko gave me a nod, acknowledging me for molesting the molester, sending my reputation up about four notches.

In high school, Banning had been an all-state basketball player and the Missouri State discus champion. He was basically a human gorilla.

Valentino was a tough guy from Chicago who lifted weights every spare minute of his life. But he was so strong he had no lateral movement. He could only go straight ahead, always at full throttle.

The next play, the Marine quarterback dropped back to pass.

Banning and I broke through the line, chasing the quarterback to his right. Valentino, at full speed, “tagged” the quarterback in his own end zone.

In fact, he “tagged” him so hard the quarterback rolled about three revolutions before coming to a halt with a mouth full of Georgia clay.

The final score – Computer Geeks 2, Marines 0.

Sometimes you can’t tell a book by the cover.

And sometimes geeks are more than just geeks.

John Luzon, quarterback, had a great arm. He was signed as a pitcher in the Baltimore Oriole organization.

Jack Quitoni, halfback, played semi-pro football and now coaches high school football in New York State.

Clyde Pruitt, wide receiver, was a super athlete who had played basketball on scholarship for UCLA.

Bill Banning, lineman, became a hotshot software developer for IBM, creating the OS/2 database manager.

John Valentino, lineman, moved on to Hollywood where he represents many famous actors as an agent.

John Wright, linebacker, returned to his old job in Burbank and was nominated for an Oscar for editing the movies THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990) and SPEED (1994).

And of course, I went on to become a hermit in the Ozark Mountains where I write stuff and talk to trees.

We were all draftees, serving two years in an office building on a small post in Atlanta, Georgia, doing our best to maintain our sanity. In those days, most draftees went across the Big Pond to the jungles of South Vietnam to dodge bullets.

A man named Jeffrey Mellinger was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1972. In July of 2011, after serving nearly 40 years, Command Sgt. Major Mellinger is preparing to retire from service. He is the last of the Vietnam Era draftees to retire.

Destiny is a curious thing.
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Quote for the Day -- "If a man watches three football games in a row, he should be declared legally dead." Erma Bombeck
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Bret Burquest, author of four novels, has recently published THE REALITY OF THE ILLUSION OF REALITY (esoteric knowledge) and 1111 HAPPY TRAILS ROAD (humor) -- available on Amazon. He lives in the Ozark Mountains with a dog named Buddy Lee and the ghost of Bronko Nagurski.
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Medal of Honor

Courage is a latent virtue. You never know you have it until you're tested.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration, awarded by the U.S. government, that can be bestowed on a member of the United States Armed Services. It is often awarded posthumously.

The recipient must distinguish himself -- "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."

The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. The USA had sent military advisors to the region in 1950, attempting to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam. Our involvement escalated in the early 1960s, and combat units were deployed beginning in 1965.

Vietnam -- November, 14, 1965

A U.S. Infantry unit, outnumbered 8 to 1, was under heavy fire in the Ia Drang Valley. The enemy fire was so intense, the Infantry Commander ordered the Medi-Vac helicopters to stop coming in.

Not to worry -- Capt. Ed Freeman, Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battery, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) is coming for you.

Capt. Freeman was not Medi-Vac – it was not his job to evacuate the wounded.

Instead, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered to avoid the landing zone, Capt. Freeman ignored the Infantry Commander's concerns and flew his Huey helicopter down into the hostile machine gun fire.

Capt. Freeman landed his chopper and sat there under heavy gunfire until 2 or 3 wounded soldiers were loaded on board. Then he flew up and out, transporting the wounded to a field hospital.

And he kept coming back, 13 more times, picking up some 30 wounded soldiers in all and transporting them to safety.

The Battle of Ia Drang was one of the first major battles of the Vietnam Conflict. The U.S. casualties were 234 dead and 242 wounded.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Capt. Ed Freeman, died on March 25th, 2009, at the age of 80, in Boise, Idaho.

Rest in Peace.

United States Armed Forces casualties in the Vietnam War:

58,209 killed in action
303,635 wounded in action
1,948 missing in action
246 medal of honor recipients
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Quote for the Day – "Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
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Bret Burquest is an award-winning columnist and author of four novels. He lives in the Ozark Mountains with a dog named Buddy Lee and served in the U.S. Army in 1966-1968. His blogs appear on several websites, including www.myspace.com/bret1111
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